Our poor lonely female kiwi is doing her very best to attract a willing mate but the male still just isn't interested.
This year she has waited patiently producing an abundance of flowers later in the season avoiding any frost damage but her prospective mate just sits beside her clothed in nothing but leaves - granted they are beautiful leaves but not very much needed flowers.
I understand that places like Kew freeze pollen and store it for use in later years should the need arise. So does anyone happened to have a supply of frozen kiwi pollen?
We could buy another plant but the female took years to get to the stage where she produced flowers. Mark at Mark's Veg Plot suggested a stud plant so does anyone own a kiwi stud farm?
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Lool poor kiwi...I have no idea where to get pollen.. Kiwis don't grow here and to be honest after seeing all the troubles you are having with it I don't regret the lack of growing one :D
ReplyDeleteIt is a very decorative plant too Leanan so it's not all bad news!
DeleteIt doesn't look as though kiwi will be on the menu. It's a shame the male doesn't flower, but at least you have some lovely flowers to enjoy on the female if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteTrue, Jo - maybe one day he will perform!
DeleteI've never actually grown Kiwi - or eaten one for that matter so I'm unable to help I'm afraid. good luck in your search for pollen but frozen Kiwi pollen is not going to be an easy thing to get hold of I suspect. lol.
ReplyDeleteLovely flowers though Sue.
I'm not optimistic of success, Linda
DeleteDo you know of any 'open gardens' that might have a male plant? You likely only need one branch. Would they miss a branch? ;-) Teasing. Hope someone comes to the rescue. Kiwi fruit are one of my favourite.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea Bren - pity they don't advertise that they have a male kiwi or I'd be there like a shot!
DeleteWhat a shame Sue could you not take a small paint brush and pollenate the flowers and see what happens only an idea hope it helps have a good weekend from Linda
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't work like that, Linda as the female flowers which are all our plant has need pollen from a male flower and our male plant is flowerless. The plants as just either male or female so you need one of each for any sort of pollination.
DeleteOh the poor thing....he seriously needs to man up and get the job done!!!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see a kiwi plant, I've never seen one before.xxxx
The leaves are lovely, Snowbird - the photo only shows the underside as I lifted the vine up to show the flowers. The top of the leaves are furry and start off a reddish colour.
DeleteSomeday I am going to plant some hardy kiwi. I hope they aren't as finicky as all that. It is hard enough to grow things up here.
ReplyDeleteIf you go for a self fertile variety it should be easier, Bonnie but when we bought the ones we did we thought having a male and a female would be OK, WE just didn't know that they would perform like giant pandas and just not get on with one another.,
DeleteTypical male really Sue...stubborn to a fault..lol.
ReplyDeleteI think Bren had a pretty good idea actually Sue.
I will ask around for you, I know a few people have some weird and wonderful trees on our plots so if I can find anything I will let you know ASAP.
I think she has now given up and dropped her petals, Tanya.
DeleteSuch a shame...I will still ask about though...just in case the need arises next year.
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